Indeed, one cheery soul gleefully predicted that it wouldn't make its first jumps season - and he was one of my pals!
Maybe if Racing Ahead was ever run as a business by myself and better-half Anne, it would have been an early faller.
But it never was a business, more a labour of love that cost us a fortune to keep afloat in the early years but has flourished into a magazine that has lasted two decades and is still bucking and kicking in the paddock.
I understand why there was such pessimism as, despite being the No2 spectator sport in Britain, racing has never been able to sustain a monthly magazine for very long.
We decided to start Racing Ahead when the excellent Odds On went to the great newsagent in the sky a few months earlier. I am told the exorbitant cost of some new-fangled thing called a website was to blame for it ceasing to exist in print form too.
So we took the plunge and I know there will be many people reading this who bought the first issue back in June 2004 with Kris Kin winning at Chester on the cover.
It's not easy covering racing in a monthly magazine as the sport rolls on day to day and things quickly become out of date. But, by always publishing near the end of the preceding month, we have hopefully struck a good balance of tipping pieces and horses to note along with features and interviews.
Esta historia es de la edición June 2024 de Racing Ahead.
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Esta historia es de la edición June 2024 de Racing Ahead.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
HEAT IS ON
Andy Newton assesses the numbers as temperatures in York rise
SIX IS OUT SINCE 1886
Stats ace Andy Newton examines the form and trends ahead of the Sandown showcase
ECLIPSE WAS SIRE OF ALL OUR STARS
Graham Buddry recalls the legend who launched racing's generation game
KYP DOUBLE CROWNS IT FOR AIDAN
Ballydoyle comeback star highlights Royal meeting with 'millions-to-one' Ascot Gold Cup triumph
TEEN BILLY'S RASH BREAK
lan Heitman reports on Royal Ascot young stars as 80-1 stunner springs surprise party on opening day
POISED TO TAKE PRIDE OF PLACE
Richard Eagle looks on as Epsom's home of Eclipse rebuilds for the future
JACK'S CERTAIN ABOUT THE LAD
Ben Morgan tips up out his pick of juicy bets ready to ripen this month
RUNNING ON EMPTY
Rolf Johnson mourns the 'lost souls' of the Downs on Derby day
OUR SKY MAN IS FLYING THE COOP
Robert Cooper may be bidding farewell to Sky Sports but, never fear, will still be landing his gems in Racing Ahead
PRINCE LETS HIS CROWN WOBBLE
Jeremy Grayson focuses on the ups and downs of the summer jumps learning curve